June 11, 2004

Guests:          Karl Backovsky, Ministry of Interior; Eva Dundackova, Chamber of Deputies; Jaroslav Fenyk, First Deputy to Supreme Prosecutor Komar, Public Prosecutor; Vladimir Machala, Police of Czech Republic; Lenka Treslova, Lawyer, Legislative Department

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton met with this distinguished group of visitors at the request of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  The Czech delegation included members of various institutions within the Republic involved in the drafting of anti-corruption regulations.

The question of ethics violations by public officials was discussed.  As government officials themselves – acting under the code of law – the concept of personal liability for offenses committed while in office was not an idea that was readily embraced. 

Among the topics discussed were Bivens actions, a financial remedy that arose from the Supreme Court case Bivens v. 6 unnamed federal agents.  Bivens actions allow for monetary damages to be paid if constitutional rights are violated by federal agents.  While they are seldom used, Bivens actions are an important tool in addressing abuse of power by government.  Judicial Watch used a Bivens action against former attorney general Janet Reno for her part in allowing undue force against innocent bystanders who were gassed and beaten in the well-publicized raid in the Elian Gonzalez case.